The Kent County commission met Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in regular session. The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. by County Judge Layne Coulter, with county commissioners Turney Coulter, Robert Graham, Ray Hall and Debbie Myers present. Also present were County Clerk Craig Harrison, County Sheriff William Scogin, County Treasurer Christy Coulter and Human Resources Director Regina Coulter.
Minutes of the Feb. 11, 2025 regular session were reviewed and approved; payment of bills, including approximately $75,000 for Kent County Nursing Home expenses, were also approved. Treasurer Christy Long noted that funds from the [Texas Solar Nova] solar farm has been received and invested, $1,000,000 for 3 months at 4% at the Bank of Texas.
Judge Coulter noted, regarding the TAC insurance claim from last year’s storm damage, that final measurements for window glass had been completed by the contractor, and that work on the county airport hangar had been completed.
For county Emergency Management Services, Brad Chisum reported on possible staffing interest. He also noted that EMS had received an Auto CPR machine (which conducts automated CPR during 25-minute drive to the hospital in Aspermont), and training on the apparatus was complete. Chisum noted that surrounding counties provide mutual help with coverage; Kent especially helps out with calls in Dickens and Aspermont. Judge Coulter suggested that EMS visit with KCNH administrators to set mutual expectations for response procedures.
County Sheriff William Scogin reported a jail census of 2.
For Human Resources, Regina Coulter reported that cybersecurity training would be conducted online with county staffm to be completed by August. The court entertained a motion to use TAC to conduct such training in 2025; the motion carried unanimously. It was noted that commissioners are exempt from the training requirement.
Under county/school investments, the court approved a motion to invest $1 million in a new certificate of deposit at Kent Co State Bank, at 4% for one year. The motion carried unanimously.
The Kent County Nursing Home financial report was presented by business manager Linda Daniels. Cash flow has been negatively impacted by QIPP and other large payors’ decisions to pay quarterly (rather than monthly), Daniels said; the facility was still awaiting large payments, which would perhaps arrive by the first week of March.
KCNC administrator Nathan Smith reported a current resident census of 47, with another admission expected that day. Co-administrator Steve King received a call the previous week from the HHSC Quality Assurance Special Investigations team. A summary of the 3.5-hour phone conference had been prepared and submitted to the court. The conference “may or may not affect status of the fine” assessed in light of an IJ case, King said.
King said that some new staff members had been hired to help with increasing resident census, and training was ongoing in specific areas. Staff held an extended discussion on recent and upcoming improvements in management of facility Smith noted that the current leadership team “all came up together and all knew each others’ working styles,” a benefit in management of the facility. Commissioner Turney Coulter inquired about the possibility of revisit a consulting contract currently in place. Smith presented options for the medical director contract.
Court adjourned into executive session, to discuss personnel at 11:22 a.m. No further action was reported to The Texas Spur.
